Terminal table for electrical equipment and power converting device employing the same

Abstract: A terminal table suitable for use in an electrical equipment, which is capable of coping with an existing wiring mode in the equipment when a connecting mode on the external circuit side is changed. Respective terminal pairs (T) of the terminal table (10) are so constructed that one side (X) provides terminals of a wire press-tightening and connecting mode whereas the other side (Y) provides terminals of a crimp-style terminal tightening and connecting mode. The terminal table enables a desired external connecting mode to be adopted without regard to the equipment wiring mode. Thus, it is not necessary to prepare equipments whose wiring modes differ or to modify an existing equipment wiring, thereby reducing costs.

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a wire connecting terminal table used for an electrical equipment, and particularly to a terminal table suitable for use in a power converting device such as an inverter device. In an electrical equipment such as an inverter device or the like, it is necessary to electrically connect electrically conductive paths on the electrical equipment side and conductive paths based on wires or the like on the external circuit side to one another. Therefore, terminal tables 10A and 10B have heretofore been used wherein terminal pairs T comprising terminal sections or portions IT on the electrical equipment side and terminal sections or portions OT on the external circuit side, which are electrically connected to one another, are arranged in parallel in plural form as shown in Figs. 7 through 10. Figs. 7 and 8 in these drawings respectively show examples of the terminal tables 10A provided with the terminal portions fabricated in crimp-style terminal tightening and connecting structures (modes). Figs. 9 and 10 respectively show the terminal tables 10B provided with the terminal portions fabricated in wire press-tightening and connecting structures (modes). In the drawings, reference numerals 3 indicate terminal screws provided at terminals of the crimp-style terminal tightening and connecting structures. Reference numerals 4 indicate terminal screws provided at terminals of the wire press-tightening and connecting structures in the same manner as described above. Reference numerals 6 indicate wire insertion holes defined in the terminals of the wire press-tightening and connecting structures. Assuming now that the width of each of the terminal pairs T each having the crimp-style terminal tightening and connecting structure is represented as m and the width of each of the terminal pairs T each having the wire press-tightening and connecting structure is represented as n , it is understood that m > n. This is because, in the case of the terminal table 10A provided with the terminal portions of the crimp-style terminal tightening and connecting structures, the dimension of each terminal screw can only be reduced within a limit, since copper wire from which covering material has been stripped and the like must be wrapped around the screw so as to be fixed. Incidentally, Figs. 7 through 10 respectively show the terminal portions IT on the electrical equipment side and the terminal portions OT on the external circuit side as illustrative examples for convenience. Needless to say the terminal portions IT on the electrical equipment side and the terminal portions OT on the external circuit side may be replaced with terminals on the external circuit side and terminals on the electrical equipment side respectively. As a publication which has disclosed this type of terminal table, there can be mentioned a catalogue published by KASUGA ELECTRIC WORKS LTD. in Japan, in which the terminal table has been described as a trade name "Kasuga Contaclip Terminal Table" or "Multi-Rail Type Terminal Table", for example. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The above prior art is accompanied by a problem that consideration is not given to the fact that different connecting modes may be required in the terminal portions of the two sides of the terminal table, thus causing an increase in cost. Specifically, the connecting mode on one of the electrical equipment side and the external circuit side depends on the connecting mode of the other side in the conventional terminal table. The terminal portions of different connecting modes cannot be employed in the conductive paths on the electrical equipment side and on the external circuit side. Thus, if the connecting mode on the external circuit side is decided according to a user's desire, then the connecting mode on the electrical equipment side is decided correspondingly. Therefore, when the connecting mode on the external circuit side is changed, the wiring mode on the electrical equipment side must be changed correspondingly on all such occasions, thereby causing an increase in cost. Fig. 11 shows one example in which a crimp-style terminal tightening and connecting mode is required as a connecting mode on the external circuit side. Correspondingly, it is necessary to use a terminal table 10A provided with terminal sections or portions each having a crimp-style terminal tightening and connecting structure. Further, wiring bars 11 provided in a power converting device on the electrical equipment side need to be used which are provided with terminal sections or portions 11A with holes defined therethrough as connecting portions on the terminal table side. Fig. 12 illustrates one example in which a wire press-tightening and connecting mode is required as a connecting mode on the external circuit side. Correspondingly, it is necessary to use a terminal table 10B provided with terminal sections or portions each having a wire press-tightening and connecting structure. Further, wiring bars 11 provided in a power converting device on the electrical equipment side need to be used which are provided with fine or slender terminal sections or portions 11B as connecting portions on the terminal table side. Various insulated cables or wires as well as wiring bars are employed as the electrically conductive paths. Further, various kinds of connecting elements are used as the above connecting portions, as shown in Figs. 13 through 17. All have selective applications. Thus, the conventional terminal table has to be selected for a corresponding connecting mode each time. An object of the present invention is to provide a terminal table suitable for use in an electrical equipment, which is capable of making it unnecessary to change a wiring mode in the electrical equipment even if a connecting mode on the external circuit side varies and of coping with the same equipment wiring mode at all times, thereby making it possible to reliably reduce an increase in cost. The above object can be achieved by providing terminal portions forming terminal pairs and having different connecting modes on the electrical equipment side and the external circuit side. A terminal table having terminal portions fabricated in different connecting modes can be connected to an external circuit having a dissimilar connecting mode without changing a wiring mode on the electrical equipment side. Thus, the connecting mode on the electrical equipment side can be decided without supposing the connecting mode on the external circuit side in advance. Therefore, electrical equipments having different connecting (wiring) modes are unnecessary. Thus, the same wiring mode can be always maintained as it is, so that an increase in cost can be reliably reduced. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a plan view showing one embodiment of a terminal table according to the present invention, which is suitable for use in an electrical equipment. Fig. 2 is a side view as seen from both sides of the terminal table taken along line A - A of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line B - B of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a plan view showing another embodiment of a terminal table according to the present invention, which is suitable for use in an electrical equipment. Fig. 5 is a view illustrating one example of use of a terminal table according to the present invention, which is suitable for use in the electrical equipment. Fig. 6 is a view illustrating another example of use of a terminal table according to the present invention, which is suitable for use in the electrical equipment. Fig. 7 is a plan view showing a conventional example of a terminal table suitable for use in an electrical equipment. Fig. 8 is a front view showing another conventional example of the terminal table suitable for use in the electrical equipment. Fig. 9 is a plan view showing a further conventional example of the terminal table suitable for use in the electrical equipment. Fig. 10 is a front view showing a still further conventional example of the terminal table suitable for use in the electrical equipment. Fig. 11 is a view illustrating one example in which a conventional terminal table suitable for use in an electrical equipment is used. Fig. 12 is a view illustrating another example in which the conventional terminal table suitable for use in an electrical equipment is employed. Fig. 13 is an explanatory view of a conductive bar having a crimp-style terminal tightening structure. Fig. 14 is an explanatory view of a conductive bar having a wire press-tightening structure. Fig. 15 is an explanatory view of a wire having a crimp-style terminal. Fig. 16 is an explanatory view of a wire having a plate-like terminal. Fig. 17 is an explanatory view of a wire having a bared core. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A terminal table for an electrical equipment, according to the present invention will hereinafter be described in detail in accordance with illustrated embodiments. Figs. 1 through 3 respectively show a terminal board or table 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 1 is a plan view of the terminal table 10. Fig. 2 is a side view as seen from both sides of the terminal table 10 taken along line A - A of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line B - B of Fig. 1. In Figs. 1 through 3, reference numeral 1 indicates a base made up of an insulating material such as a predetermined plastic. Reference numeral 2 indicates a conductive plate composed of a metal plate such as copper. Designated at numeral 5 is a pressing plate attached to a terminal having a press-tightening and connecting structure. Reference numeral 7 indicates a mounting hole. Incidentally, terminal screws 3 and 4 and wire insertion holes 6 are the same as described above. As has already been illustrated in Figs. 13 through 17, a conductive bar and an insulated cable or wire are used as an electrically conductive path. Fig. 13 shows one example of the conductive path using a conductive bar 11 having a terminal section or portion 11A with a hole defined therethrough. Fig. 14 illustrates another example of the electrically conductive path using another conductive bar 11 having a fine or slender type terminal section or portion 11B mounted thereto. Fig. 15 depicts a further example of the electrically conductive path using an insulated cable or wire 12 to which a crimp-style terminal 13 whose trade name is called "AMP" is attached. Similarly, Fig. 16 illustrates a still further example of the electrically conductive path using an insulated wire 12 to which a plate-like terminal 14 is mounted. Fig. 17 shows a still further example in which a core 15 exposed by stripping a covering material from an end of an insulated wire 12 is used itself as a terminal. Each of the electrically conductive paths shown in Figs. 13 and 15 of these drawings is electrically connected to a terminal section or portion in a crimp-style terminal tightening and connecting mode. Each of the electrically conductive paths shown in Figs. 14, 16 and 17 is electrically connected to a terminal section or portion in a wire press-tightening and connecting mode. Incidentally, the insulated wires shown in Figs. 15 through 17 are used as electrically conductive paths employed in an electrical equipment such as a power converting apparatus or the like as well as the conductive bars illustrated in Figs. 13 and 14. However, the insulated wires shown in Figs. 15 through 17 are principally used as electrically conductive paths for an external circuit. As is apparent from the drawings, one side (X side of Fig. 1) of each of respective terminal pairs T and the other side (Y side of Fig. 1) thereof are different in terminal connecting mode from each other. In other words, each of the terminals on the X side is fabricated in a wire press-tightening and connecting mode, whereas each of the terminals on the Y side is fabricated in a crimp-style terminal tightening and connecting mode. As is illustrated in the drawing, the width of each of the terminal pairs T is set to m so as to suit that of each of the terminal portions fabricated on the Y side in the crimp-style terminal tightening and connecting mode, which require wider dimensions. In the terminals fabricated on the X side in the wire press-tightening and connecting mode, as shown in Fig. 3, the slender type terminal portions 11B of the conductive bar 11 shown in Fig. 14, the plate-like terminal 14 of the insulated wire 12 shown in Fig. 16 or the leading end of the core 15 shown in Fig. 17 is first inserted through the wire insertion hole 6 and each terminal screw 4 is then tightened. Thus, the leading end of a wire or the like is pressed and fixed between the pressing plate 6 and the conductive plate 2 to thereby provide an electrical connection of the bar or wire. On the other hand, in the terminals fabricated on the Y side in the crimp-style terminal tightening and connecting mode, the terminal screw 3 is drawn and either the terminal portion 11A having the hole defined therethrough, of the conductive bar 11 shown in Fig. 13 or a hole defined in the crimp-style terminal 15 of the insulated wire 12 shown in Fig. 15 is interposed between a washer and the conductive plate 2. Then, the terminal screw 3 is threadedly inserted into its corresponding hole and tightened so as to fix the bar or wire, thereby making it possible to provide an electrical connection. A method of using the terminal table 10 according to the present embodiment will now be described below. Fig. 5 shows an example in which a wire press-tightening and connecting mode is required, as an external-circuit connecting mode, for a power converting device provided with wires or conductors corresponding to conductive bars 11 respectively having terminal portions 11A with holes defined therethrough. In this case, the Y side of the terminal table 10 is directed toward the power converting device and the terminal portions 11A of the conductive bars 11 are electrically connected to the terminal portions on the Y side, which are fabricated in the crimp-style terminal tightening and connecting mode, thereby producing a single assembly. Accordingly, the X side of the terminal table 10, i.e. the terminal portions fabricated in the wire press-tightening and connecting mode are directed toward the outside of the power converting device. Therefore, the plate-like terminal 14 of the insulated wire 12 shown in Fig. 16 or the core 15 shown in Fig. 17, for example, can be externally connected to each of the terminal portions fabricated in the wire press-tightening and connecting mode. Fig. 6 shows an example in which a crimp-style terminal tightening and connecting mode is required, as an external-circuit connecting mode, for a power converting device provided with wires or conductors corresponding to conductive bars 11 respectively having slender terminal portions 11B. In this case, the X side of a terminal table 10 is directed toward the power converting device and the slender terminal portions 11B of the conductive bars 11 are connected to their corresponding terminal portions fabricated in the wire press-tightening and connecting mode, thereby forming a single assembly. Accordingly, the Y side of the terminal table 10, i.e. the terminal portions fabricated in the crimp-style terminal tightening and connecting mode are directed toward the outside of the power converting device. Therefore, the crimp-style terminal 15 of the insulated wire 12 shown in Fig. 15 by way of example, which extends from the outside, can be electrically connected to each of the terminal portions fabricated in the crimp-style terminal tightening and connecting mode. In the terminal table 10 according to the present embodiment, the width of each of the terminal pairs T is set to a dimension of m as shown in Fig. 1. This dimension is just the same for both the terminal portions fabricated on the X side in the wire press-tightening and connecting mode and the terminals fabricated on the Y side in the crimp-style terminal tightening and connecting mode. Therefore, it is unnecessary to change the configuration of each of the conductive bars 11 in the power converting device in either case shown in Figs. 5 and 6. Thus, the dimension referred to above can be applied to either case. More specifically, the cable or wire provided with the crimp-style terminal 13 shown in Fig. 15 has been mainly used as a mode for connecting each of electrically conductive paths to an external circuit in Japanese territory and the U.S.A. It is, however, inevitable in the prior art that a terminal table 10A shown in Fig. 7 of a crimp-style terminal tightening and connecting mode should be used and the crimp-style terminal tightening and connecting mode should be employed correspondingly as a mode for connection of conductors or patterns in an electrical equipment. However, when it is desired to connect a power converting device, fabricated so as to fit on the terminal table 10A of the crimp-style terminal tightening and connecting mode in the above-described manner, to an external circuit employing a wire press-tightening and connecting mode, which has been mainly used in Europe, particularly Germany, the power converting device cannot be connected thereto as it is using the terminal table 10B shown in Fig. 9. Rather, it is necessary to change each of terminal-treated wires or conductors wired in the power converting device to either the plate-like terminal 14 shown in Fig. 16 or the core 15 shown in Fig. 17. Thus, if the terminal table 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention is used, it is then unnecessary to make a change in the terminal-treated conductors wired in the power converting device. Accordingly, the power converting device can be applied to the external circuit as it is. If conductive bars 11 respectively having terminal portions 11A with holes defined therethrough are used as conductors in a power converting device as shown in Fig. 11, then neither the width of the terminal portions 11A nor the spacing m of the conductive bars 11 suitable for the terminal table 10A is appropriate for the terminal table 10B. Therefore, the conductive bars 11 are not applicable as they are. It is thus necessary to change the above conductive bars 11 to conductive bars 11 respectively having fine or slender terminal portions 11B as shown in Fig. 12 and change the spacing of each of the conductive bars 11 to the dimension n . Even in this case, however, if the terminal table 10 according to the present embodiment of the present invention is used, then such conductive bars 11 can be used as they are without changing the terminal process of wires or conductors wired in the power converting device. Another embodiment of the present invention will now be described. A power converting device such as an inverter device has a casing normally made of metal. It is, however, necessary to connect the casing to the earth in this case. Therefore, terminals used for the earth are required. Fig. 4 shows one embodiment of the present invention, which is suitable to the case where the earth terminals are required. In the drawing, reference numeral 7A indicates mounting holes which also serve as holes for insertion of terminal screws 3 employed in terminal portions on the Y side, of a crimp-style terminal tightening and connecting mode. Therefore, each of the mounting holes 7A includes the conductive plate 2 (see Fig. 3) having a hole defined therein, which is not an internally-threaded hole, i.e. a simple hole. Thus, the mounting holes 7A are provided such that terminal screws having dimensions such as to reach the bottom of the terminal table 10 are inserted and threadedly fit in mounting holes defined in the casing, thereby providing electrical connections between the electrically conductive paths and the terminal table 10 and electrically connecting terminal portions thereof to the casing. Thus, according to the embodiment shown in Fig. 4, the terminals provided at both ends of the terminal table 10 serve as earth terminals. Further, the terminal table 10 can be mounted simultaneously with being connected to the earth. Therefore, when the earth for the casing is needed, its treatment is made easy. According to the present invention, the connecting mode on the electrical equipment side can be decided without supposing the connecting mode on the external circuit side in advance in the power converting device such as the inverter device. Therefore, electrical equipments having different connecting (wiring) modes are unnecessary. Thus, the same connecting mode can be always used as it is, thereby making it possible to reliably reduce an increase in cost.

Claims: A terminal table (10) suitable for use in an electrical equipment, including a terminal pair (T) comprising a terminal for an electrical equipment side (IT) and a terminal for an external circuit side (OT), the terminals of the pair being electrically connected to each other, one side (X) of said terminal pair (T) and the other side (Y) thereof being different in terminal connecting mode from each other, characterised in that said terminal table (10) comprises a plurality of said terminal pairs (T) wherein each of the terminals on the one side (X) is fabricated in a wire press-tightening and connecting mode, whereas each of the terminals on the other side (Y) is fabricated in a crimp-style terminal tightening and connecting mode, and the terminals of the two sides comprise respective linear arrays having the same inter-terminal pitch. A terminal table according to claim 1, wherein at least two of the terminals, of one or both sides, include means for mounting (7, 7A) the terminal table. A terminal table according to claim 2, wherein the mounting means (7, 7A) of each of said at least two terminals electrically connects the terminal to a casing on which the terminal table is mounted. A power converting device having a terminal table (10) arranged for connecting an external circuit to the device, the terminal table (10) comprising a terminal pair (T) composed of a terminal on the device side (IT) which is connected to a conductor (11) of the device and a terminal on the external circuit side (OT) which is connectable to an external circuit, the terminals of the pair being electrically connected to each other, one side (X) of said terminal pair (T) and the other side (Y) thereof being different in terminal connecting mode from each other, characterised in that said terminal table (10) comprises a plurality of said terminal pairs (T) wherein each of the terminals on the one side (X) is fabricated in a wire press-tightening and connecting mode, whereas each of the terminals on the other side (Y) is fabricated in a crimp-style terminal tightening and connecting mode, and the terminals of the two sides comprise respective linear arrays having the same inter-terminal pitch.

Inventors: HIROTA MASAYUKI, IBORI SATOSHI, TOKASHIKI MUTUO, HIROTA, MASAYUKI, IBORI, SATOSHI, TOKASHIKI, MUTUO
Applicants: HITACHI KEIYO ENG, HITACHI LTD, HITACHI KEIYO ENGINEERING CO., LTD., HITACHI, LTD.
Application year: 1994
Main classification: H01R4
IPC codes: H01R4, H01R9, H02M7